Nico glanced at his gold wristwatch and back at the door. It had been more than five minutes already and she wasn't back. He tapped his foot against the floor impatiently.
"Is anything wrong?" Marco observed.
"We'll get in touch later. I'll be on my way now." He stood up hurriedly, grabbing her purse on the sofa as he exited the lounge.
He quickened his steps as he stormed towards the bathroom. "Nika!!" He yelled from the entrance. A few women inside exchanged awkward glances, startled.
He paced back and forth, running his hands through his dark, messy hair. "Come out now, or I'm coming in!" He placed his hand on the gun in his waistband.
If she was trying to escape then she was I'm for it.
He'll have the whole city combed just to find her!
After a few seconds, he stormed into the bathroom, throwing the stalls open. The stalls were empty, except for the frightened women who ran out of the bathroom.
Nico froze.
She wasn't here—
She was gone.
He slipped his hand into his pocket and brought out his phone. He dialed a number and after a few rings, the call went through.
"Nico, I was just about to call," Theo said.
"Nika is gone." His voice dropped.
"What do you mean she's gone? You had your eyes on her, didn't you?"
Nico paused. He took in a slow, deep breath. "I let her go for a second and that bitch goes running around," he rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"I want you to find her. Leave no place unsearched and don't call me until you find her." He ended the call.
************************************
The car came to a stop in front of an old, abandoned church. The church was in ruins—bricks and pillars scattered on the ground.
"I'll be back. You stay here and wait for their call." Yelena said as she put on her shades as a disguise.
Vadim simply nodded. He watched her in anticipation as she got down from the car and walked towards the entrance of the church.
An old man in a coat was already seated at the front row, a short distance from the altar. As she walked through the aisle, she slipped a pistol into her bag. The sound of her heels clicking against the marbled floors echoed, drawing the man's attention.
"We shouldn't be seen together like this." She stopped in front of him. He looked up at her with a crooked smile, his eyes taking in her hard features.
"You don't change, do you?" He said with a small smile.
She sat down beside him, maintaining a safe distance. "Cut the crap and get to the point."
"Okay," he raised his hands in mockery. "I brought the girl. You'll give me Nico's head." He tilted his head slightly.
Yelena sighed. "I can't do that now. We're in enemy territory. When I get back to Russia...when the war starts, I'll make sure I bring you his head." She assured him.
He remained silent for a while. Both of them staring at the altar in silence.
"I'll be waiting." He chuckled. He glanced at her briefly before standing up and dusting off his clothes. "Till when next we meet, partner."
With that, he walked out of the church leaving her alone to her thoughts. After a few minutes, she got up and made it to the car. "Do we have the girl?" She opened the door and got in.
"Yes. We have her."
"Then drive! We have to make it out of Italy before he gets to us!" She tapped the driver's seat. He turned on the ignition and raced out of the church building.
The car sped through the empty road, the sound of the engine loud in the silence. No one spoke. Yelena stared straight ahead, her fingers tapping lightly against her thigh. Time wasn't on their side. She knew Nico wouldn't sit still after finding out.
"He'll come for her," Vadim said from the backseat.
"I know," she replied calmly.
"And when he does?"
Yelena turned slightly, her gaze cold. "We'll be ready."
The driver slowed down as they approached an isolated building. It looked abandoned from the outside. Broken windows. Rusted gates. No signs of life.
"Stop here."
The car came to a halt. Yelena stepped out first, adjusting her coat. The night air was cold against her skin. Vadim followed behind her as they made their way inside. The smell hit her immediately.
Damp. Dust. Something stale. Rotten.
They moved down a narrow staircase that led to the basement. The lights flickered weakly above them. Two men were already there.
One of them nodded. "She's inside."
Yelena didn't respond. She walked past them without hesitation. The basement was small. A single bulb hung from the ceiling.
Nika lay on the floor. Still. Unconscious.
Her hair was spread across the dirty ground, her body unmoving. For a second, the room felt too quiet. Yelena crouched down beside her.
She studied her face carefully. "So this is her," she said softly.
Vadim leaned against the wall, watching. "She doesn't look like much trouble."
Yelena didn't reply immediately. She reached out, lifting Nika's chin slightly, examining her. "Looks can be deceiving," she said. She let go of her face, letting it drop back.
"Is she alive?" Vadim asked.
One of the men stepped forward. "Yes. Just unconscious."
Yelena nodded once. "Good."
She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. For a moment, she simply stared at Nika. Then she grabbed a handful of her hair, lifting her head slightly.
Nika didn't react. Perfect.
She angled her phone and took a picture. The flash went off briefly, lighting up the room. Yelena looked down at the screen, satisfied. She opened her messages and typed slowly.
<
She sent the picture. There was no hesitation. She slipped her phone back into her bag and stood up. "Get her ready," she said. "We leave immediately."
The men nodded and moved quickly. Vadim pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer.
"This is going to start something big," he said.
Yelena looked at Nika one last time. "It already has." She turned and walked out of the basement without looking back.
**********************************
Miles away, in a quiet office, a phone buzzed on a desk. The room was dimly lit. Papers were scattered neatly across the surface. A glass of untouched drink sat beside them.
Aleksei sat behind the desk, his expression unreadable. The phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen.
A message. From Yelena.
He picked up the phone and opened it. The image loaded slowly. His eyes darkened slightly as he took it in.
A photo of Nika, unconscious and helpless.
His fingers tapped lightly against the phone as he leaned back in his chair. For a moment, he said nothing. He clenched his fists before locking the screen.
The war had just begun.